September 2022 Whims | 1st Edition

A Warm Welcome Back to Riley!

And just like that..

another wonderful year at Riley is ready to begin!

Greetings friends new and old on this early September evening. It's been a quiet summer at 73 Warrenton Road and as the long, sunny days begin to wane, The Riley School campus is eagerly awaiting the joyous return of its community.

Last month we had a taste of being back together when we launched a celebration of 50 Years at Riley under the Perseids Meteor Shower and it was wonderful to see the campus bustling with life again. What a treat to be amongst so many generations of Riley Alumni!

This past week our incredible Riley faculty has been working hard at preparing our classrooms and campus for the 2022/23 school year. As we gear up for another creative and engaging year we wanted to send out our first Whims with all the need to know information for the early days of school. Please be in touch if you have any questions. We cannot wait to see the place we'll go, the things we'll learn, and the relationships we'll build with one another in the year head!

Cheers to a wonderful school year!

Back to School

Picnic !

WHAT

Our annual back to school picnic

WHEN

Tuesday September 6th 4:30 - 6

WHERE

The Riley School campus

BRING

-A meal, drinks, and utensils for your family

-A simple dessert or appetizer to share

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BRING

-Extra items, spare clothes, etc., to put in your child's cubby before the first day of school

If we do not yet have your immunization and Child Information sheets bring them to assure that your child can begin the year with us.

Riley will provide a cooler of ice and light the fire pits for cooking.

We will be having a scavenger hunt that will take you to places that children talk about throughout the year such as Fortville, Hideaway, and our Bike Trail.

This is a family event and all are welcome

( Please leave your dogs at home)

The faculty are not “on duty” and you remain in charge of your child’s safety and supervision.

Important

Back to School Details

Requests for All Families

Regarding Your Children's Items

-Please make sure EVERYTHING is labeled with your child's name

-Please pack extra outfits in a separate bag to be left in each child's cubby

-Children's backpacks should have only their water bottle, lunch box, slippers and extra pairs of socks (3 or 4 pairs). This will keep them light and easy to carry around.

-Morning snacks should be packed separately and be easily accessible for children.

-Please make sure you send your child with a mask.

School Supplies

Most school supplies are provided at Riley. Additional supplies are appreciated but not required. Thank you!

Please provide (for Middle & Upper School):

2 - 1 ½” 3 ring binders w/attached pencil case

2 - packs of lined 3 hole reinforced paper

1 - eraser

1 - box of pencils

Snacks & Meals at Riley

Please send nourishing food for our learners!

A healthy snack, lunch & water bottle should be provided daily.

Families are encouraged to send children with fresh healthy lunches packed in resealable, reusable containers. They will be inspired by one another.. not just by cleverly marketed " lunch box" packaging.

Please limit sweets and avoid sugary drinks or soda and minimize use of individually wrapped or single use packaging.

A protein source will provide better, longer lasting energy for these hardworking children. Examples include cheese sticks, greek yogurt, protein or granola bars, edamame or pumpkin seeds, nuts, hummus, hard boiled eggs.

**Riley is not currently a nut free campus**

Children eat outdoors whenever the weather allows. Refrigeration, stove and microwave are not available to children. Packaging and untouched or significantly leftover food will be sent home. Children are encouraged to compost scrap.

We've included some links below to help get us back into the swing of things!

28 Healthy High Protein Snacks That Travel

Compostable Sandwich Bags

Reusable Sandwich Bags

Stainless Steel Lunchbox

Pizza Party!

Join us at Flatbread in Rockport on September 27th for a Riley fundraising event. A portion of every small and large pizza ordered will go to The Riley School. We encourage you to invite your friends, families, and neighbors to join in on the fun- the more the merrier!

September at a Glance

September 1st

Tuition Payments Due

September 6th

Back to School

Family Picnic

4:30-6

September 8th

First Day of School!

8:30-12

Wade Acres and Lower School

8:30 am

Tanglewood Campout for Middle & Upper School, Drop Off at Tanglewood

September 9th

Pickup "overnighters"

3 pm at Tanglewood

September 15th

Parent Coffee

Morning Drop Off:

Safety & Efficiency Are in the Details!

When dropping off in the morning, please enter the circle towards Wade Acres and wait in line. You will NOT need to sign in this year, but a facilitator will be checking children off as they arrive.

Please work with us to keep morning drop off safe for all of our children.

The speed limit at Riley is 10 mph. Please never pass vehicles on the driveway as children are exiting for drop off, this request includes Wade Acres parents who will park and walk their children in as well.

Unfortunately bypassing the drop off line can create unsafe situations and it’s in the interest of safety that everyone is asked to patiently wait in line.

If you are a Wade Acres parent, once you get to the head of the line you can pull up in front of Wade Acres to park and walk your child around on the right to the back play area.

Lower School children will go straight to the Lower School. Middle and Upper School children will go to their morning connections/reflection groups. Your child's reflection group facilitator will be reaching out to you soon!

After Care

After care will run Mondays - Thursdays beginning on September 26th 2022 and run until June 1st 2023.

WADE ACRES

is $25.00 a day or $2500 for the school year, if paid in full prior to September 8th (a $225.00 savings).

POTTERY

WITH LEITH

is 30.00 a day or $3100 for the school year, if paid in full prior to September 8th (a $220.00 savings).

A Note on Immunizations Records & Emergency Contacts

Please remember that your child may not be left at school until your immunization records and your emergency contact forms have been turned in to Tam in the office.

HOW TO REACH US

Office 596-6405

Admin cell

691-4005

info@rileyschool.org

director@rileyschool.org

PO Box 159

Rockport ME 04856

Celebrating 50 Years of The Riley School

A Look Back on the 2021-2022 School Year

Support The Riley School

Thank you so Sidecountry Sports for generously donating 3 specialized bicycles that were raffled off to support our wonderful school!

Have you gotten your very own Riley t-shirt? Grab one for the summer! Or for the 50th Year Kick off Reunion and Tent out in August.

Grab one HERE.

Missed a recent Whim? Catch up with the links below!

April Whims, First Edition

March Whims, Second Edition

March Whims, First Edition

February Whims, Second Edition

February Whims, First Edition

January Whims, Second Edition

January Whims, First Edition

December Whims, Second Edition

December Whims, First Edition

The Riley School

www.rileyschool.org

207-596-6405

RILEY MISSION STATEMENT

The Riley School guides children to become independent, lifelong learners and innovative thinkers.

Founded as an intentionally small, Progressive, ungraded elementary school in 1972, Riley recognizes each child’s unique learning style. The innovative and personalized curriculum challenges children to express themselves and develop their own intellectual and creative capabilities through discovery, questioning and active engagement.

We foster a sense of responsibility towards our natural world, our community, and each other. We value cooperation and collaboration, while balancing the individual development of social, emotional and physical and academic growth.

At Riley we trust in children as learners. We honor and respect the uniqueness of the individual. We cherish and protect childhood.